Judge Rules Mississippi's Only Abortion Clinic Can Remain Open for Now

Judge Rules Mississippi's Only Abortion Clinic Can Remain Open for Now

A judge ruled July 13 that Mississippi's only abortion center can remain open while a court case requiring all abortion doctors to have hospital attending privileges proceeds, WORLD News Service reports. Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law earlier this year that also requires abortionists to be board-certified obstetrician/gynecologists. The bill was scheduled to go into effect on July 1, and would have made Mississippi the first state without a single abortion center. The sole remaining facility is run by Diane Derzis, who also runs abortion facilities in several other southeastern states. Recently, the Alabama Department of Public Health found 76 pages' worth of health code violations at the clinic she operates in Birmingham, and has said it can only remain open if it's run by someone with no ties to Derzis. Troy Newman, president of the pro-life organization Operation Rescue, called the decision "reprehensible" and said Derzis' facility will allow "fly-by-night" doctors to continue to endanger women's lives.